Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning Photo: fmprc.gov.cn

China is willing to promote the matching of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Brazil's "neo-industrialization" strategy and other development strategies, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday, commenting on Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's remarks that he plans to discuss with Chinese officials the possibility for Brazil to join the BRI.

In an interview with the Xinhua News Agency earlier this week, Brazilian President Lula said he will participate as a guest for the first time in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to be held in November in Lima, Peru, where he plans to discuss with Chinese officials the possibility for Brazil to join the BRI.

"I want to know... what position we are going to play, because we do not want to be bench players, we want to be in the starting lineup," said Lula, using soccer terminology to describe Brazil's thinking.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Brazil, as a soccer kingdom, is welcome to join the BRI community at an earlier date. It is hoped that Brail could score a ''worldie'' in the joint construction of BRI.

Brazil, although a large recipient to Chinese foreign direct investment and home to a wide range of Chinese-funded infrastructure projects, has so far remained outside the BRI.

In the interview with Xinhua, the Brazilian President said that China plays an essential role in the economic growth of Brazil, and Brazil hopes to forge a "new strategic partnership" between the two countries.

Lula said he intends to seek an "infinitely close" relationship with China.

China's growth in the past 40 years has been notable and Brazil has much to learn from China's development experience, Lula said, adding that China is an essential partner for Brazil's scientific and technological development.

Mao said China attaches great importance to the development of China-Brazil relations and always places it as a diplomatic priority, noting that countries' status as each other's comprehensive strategic partner.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, China is willing to work with Brazil to promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields toward high-quality and high-level development, bringing benefits to the people of both countries and contribute to world's development and prosperity, the spokesperson added.

Brazil's Neymar (center) celebrates after scoring against Peru on Tuesday in Lima, Peru. Photo: VCG